President Chris Miller and President-Elect Cindy Kittle represented the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita Valley (SCV) at the Zonta International (ZI) Convention 2008 in Rotterdam in July. Delegates representing more than 1,200 clubs from 67 countries and geographic areas meet every two years for elections, bylaws review and to establish biennial goals. Zonta, as a non-governmental organization (NGO) provides consultative status to the various United Nations councils and service funds that strive to improve the health, education status and welfare of women worldwide.
Zonta provides grants to UN agencies or recognized NGOs for projects that seek to change personal and/or political knowledge, attitudes and behavior contributing to gender-based violence. One of ZI’s major service contribution is to advocate the need for change and help educate for those changes. ZI Goals for 2008-2010 through education, awareness and/or procurement of drugs and medical supplies are to: 1) Work to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Rwanda; 2) Increase safety of women in Guatemala City, Guatemala and San Salvador; 3) Reduce obstetric fistula (infections) in Liberia within the context of maternal and newborn health; and 4) End violence against women by the following: a) through community action in Cambodia; b) combat physical violence against women and support laws and policies in Egypt; c) provide community based housing and rehabilitation center for women in Syria.
Education and Leadership Development Programs, available to recipients worldwide, are also available to individuals at the local level. The Ameila Earhart Fellowship provides assistance to women for graduate studies in aerospace-related sciences and engineering. Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship assists undergraduate students preparing for careers in business management and Young Women in Public Affairs Award honors young women in secondary level or pre-university schools who demonstrate a commitment to leadership in public policy, government and volunteer organizations.
The local Club develops programs that provide assistance, awareness and education to support these biennium ZI goals.
For information about Zonta, contact Phyllis Walker at 213-922-1084 or 661-251-1172.